Good gear. Straight talk.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL drill

“The way it fits in my hand is more comfortable than other brands.” — Dalton

• Other drills he has used feel larger and heavier to him; a feel, not a measured test.
• Acme lists the M18 FUEL 1/2" drill/driver at $219 bare, $289 as a kit, and the hammer drill at $229 bare. acmetools.com
• Dalton's exact model isn't listed yet, so no model specs are quoted.

Spyder Mach-Blue drill bits

• Spyder says its Mach-Blue plating keeps edges sharper and cuts heat and friction. spyderproducts.com
• Spyder's specs: M-Series alloy tool steel, 137° self-centering split point, 1/4" impact-rated hex.
• Spyder claims up to 100x more holes and 8x faster than titanium or black oxide bits. spyderproducts.com

Diablo Steel Demon carbide recip blades

In Dalton's experience, these blades last longer when he's cutting through quarter-inch steel.

• Diablo's specs: 8 TPI, TiCo Hi-Density carbide teeth, a strengthened tip-to-blade joint. diablotools.com
• Diablo credits the 1" oversized body with straighter cuts and less vibration; its Perma-SHIELD coating with less heat and friction.
• Rated for metal 3/16" to 9/16", so 1/4" fits. Diablo claims 50X the life of standard bi-metal blades there.

Klein 20-in-1 Impact Driver Set (32303HD)

Dalton likes having every screwdriver type in one handle, and says the 7/16" socket is the one he uses more than anything.

• Klein's count: 13 screwdriver bits stored in the handle, 6 flip sockets on the shaft, plus a 1/4" bit holder. kleintools.com
• Klein says every component is impact-rated, with a rare-earth magnet to hold bits and hex bolts.
• Klein's page and sell sheet list sockets 1/4" to 9/16"; its spec table shows 11/32" in place of 9/16". 7/16" is in every list.

Cornwell 44 Piece Mini Ratchet Bit Set (CBS44STAR)

Dalton brings this kit on every job. His has a small straight 1/4" ratchet, a bit adapter and assorted bits, and no sockets.

In his experience, the bit adapter helps him reach fasteners in tight spaces where a normal-size ratchet or screwdriver wouldn't fit.

• Cornwell's specs: 72-tooth ratchet with a 5° handle swing, all 1/4" bits S2 steel, aluminum case with foam insert. Cornwell catalog
• The 44 pieces: ratcheting bit driver, quick-change chuck, bit adapter, and 41 slotted, Phillips, Pozidriv, star, tamperproof star and hex bits.
• Dalton identifies the piece he uses for tight access as the bit adapter, matching the term in Cornwell's parts list.

Crescent SHOCKFORCE NITE EYE 35' magnetic tape (LM1335B-02)

Dalton's 35-foot Crescent has a magnetic tip, and in his use it reaches about 17 feet before it folds. He believes this is his model.

• Crescent rates the STABLEWING blade at 17 ft of "stable reach"; Acme's listing says 16 ft. crescenttool.com
• Crescent's specs: 1-1/4" double-sided blade, 360° diamond-coated magnetic end hook, tri-color NITE EYE markings.
• Crescent says the case was drop-tested 120 ft onto concrete; that's its test, not ours.

Johnson 48" magnetic box level (9550-4800 shown)

Dalton uses his four-foot Johnson with rare-earth magnets for leveling door jambs and door tracks. On cold job sites, he says it's doing pretty good so far.

• Shown: Johnson's 9550-4800, a 48" rare-earth magnetic box level. Dalton hasn't confirmed it's his model.
• Johnson's specs: 0.029° (0.5 mm/m) accuracy, push-button removable end caps, lifetime accuracy warranty. johnsonlevel.com
• Johnson calls the 9550 ideal for steel studs or door frames, and says its vials never fog, leak or crack.